# Kingdom Preview: Drifting Sands **URL:** \ **Category:** Official News\ **Created:** [March 4, 2016, 5:00am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203 "2016-03-04T05:00:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sirrian](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/sirrian/32/35758_2.png) [@Sirrian](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Sirrian)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 5:00am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/1 "2016-03-04T05:00:07Z")
Originally published at: [http://gemsofwar.com/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/](http://gemsofwar.com/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/) Here’s a quick peek inside the Drifting Sands, coming in 1.0.9. We’ve included a little teaser about 2 of the new troops you’ll meet there! ![Drifting Sands Landscape](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/gemsofwar/original/3X/9/e/9e7faa43426a373be82987a6de0f8fd18ae7c0b9.jpeg)To the South of the Wild Plains and the Divinion Fields, over the Horned Peaks, the clouds have parted, and intrepid adventurers will soon be able to travel to the Drifting Sands. Few humans live in this brutal and wild place, save for a few nomadic tribes, remnants of the once-great civilization who lived here before some great cataclysm reclaimed their kingdom. These days, the Drifting Sands are mostly inhabited by monsters, beasts & magical spirits, ready to devour or enslave unwary travelers and treasure hunters. **Beware The Great Maw**![The Great Maw|125x225](upload://o0e70QmAa6X33cYF7uh0sJqu7Yw.png) The Great Maw is the most dangerous creature roaming the Drifting Sands. This enormous ancient ancestor of the Rock Worm is the last of its kind known to exist. It can burrow beneath the sand and appear suddenly beneath travellers, swallowing them whole. The Great Maw introduces a new mechanic to Gems of War. Its spell is very powerful - the highest mana-cost spell in the game; so powerful in fact, that it can only be cast once in a battle (yes, once, even if you have more than one Great Maw on your team… once TOTAL). **New Troop: Dust Devil**![Dust Devil|200x200](upload://2yxuvrcKAuE57g2dZ4yp9Gck3yS.png) Dust Devils are ancient evil spirits who have shrouded themselves in cloaks made entirely of sand. Difficult to see until they rise up from the dunes in front of you, these creatures have an interesting and unique power. By controlling the wind and sand, Dust Devils can not only damage the entire enemy team, but they knock the first enemy opponent into last position! The 1.0.9 update is currently for mobile & PC only. [ ![Join the Forum!](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/gemsofwar/original/2X/a/aae053883814f6ebe8e512672550be1a60f4e58d.png) ](http://community.gemsofwar.com/) ---
**Author:** ![kzintiwife](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/kzintiwife/32/2350_2.png) [@kzintiwife](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/kzintiwife)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 5:06am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/2 "2016-03-04T05:06:46Z")
He who controls the spice… ---
**Author:** ![Rasper](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/rasper/32/2363_2.png) [@Rasper](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Rasper)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 5:07am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/3 "2016-03-04T05:07:27Z")
> [@Sirrian](#): > > By controlling the wind and sand, Dust Devils can not only damage the entire enemy team, but **they knock the first enemy opponent into last position!** Muahahahaha, begone True Shot troop! ---
**Author:** ![Eika](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/eika/32/103088_2.png) [@Eika](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Eika)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 5:07am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/4 "2016-03-04T05:07:46Z")
The Great Maw 😍😍😌 ---
**Author:** ![sethrogensbackhair](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/sethrogensbackhair/32/563_2.png) [@sethrogensbackhair](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/sethrogensbackhair)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 5:29am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/5 "2016-03-04T05:29:29Z")
So does this count as the 2nd and last preview or no? great maw ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/gemsofwar/original/2X/a/a5b49a35915d3d9db8b964a9cf25c5a0fa275012.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Nimhain](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/nimhain/32/47049_2.png) [@Nimhain](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Nimhain)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 5:30am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/6 "2016-03-04T05:30:50Z")
> [@sethrogensbackhair](#): > > So does this count as the 2nd and last preview or no? No, this is a separate preview. ---
**Author:** ![Jainus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/jainus/32/34949_2.png) [@Jainus](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Jainus)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 5:30am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/7 "2016-03-04T05:30:55Z")
Nope because it wasn’t called 109 preview, and it didn’t address some things @Sirrian mentioned yet… ---
**Author:** ![sethrogensbackhair](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/sethrogensbackhair/32/563_2.png) [@sethrogensbackhair](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/sethrogensbackhair)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 5:38am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/8 "2016-03-04T05:38:25Z")
Was just wishful thinking ;'( ---
**Author:** ![Sidousai](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/sidousai/32/604_2.png) [@Sidousai](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Sidousai)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 5:38am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/9 "2016-03-04T05:38:45Z")
> [@Sirrian](#): > > … ancient ancestor of the Rock Worm is the last of its kind And, as we know from all the past ninja histories, the Last of its Kind is usually a synonym for Death Incarnate… Especially if it also gets to use “ancient” as adjective! ---
**Author:** ![Royalty](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/royalty/32/1683_2.png) [@Royalty](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Royalty)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 6:13am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/10 "2016-03-04T06:13:57Z")
I know you must come up with new things, but aren’t you afraid that the balance of skills will be totally out of control? The skills you mention are powerful, but perhaps a bit too powerful? That’s my first impression. It can change offcourse after knowing their real mana costs 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Royalty](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/royalty/32/1683_2.png) [@Royalty](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Royalty)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 6:14am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/11 "2016-03-04T06:14:33Z")
Are you going to change your avatar? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Eika](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/eika/32/103088_2.png) [@Eika](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Eika)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 6:16am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/12 "2016-03-04T06:16:58Z")
I think so. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sirrian](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/sirrian/32/35758_2.png) [@Sirrian](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Sirrian)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 6:21am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/13 "2016-03-04T06:21:22Z")
> [@Royalty](#): > > aren’t you afraid that the balance of skills will be totally out of control? I always look at it this way… If an ability is completely OP at say 5 Mana, but completely useless at 40 Mana… there is likely a value in between at which it is reasonably balanced. We play dozens of games with a new ability, and we try out lots of values to get one we think feels right to us. There’s always a risk with this, that we get it wrong. Sometimes we definitely DO get wrong! But we’ll be standing by to adjust things if they’re not right. ---
**Author:** ![Jainus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/jainus/32/34949_2.png) [@Jainus](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Jainus)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 6:32am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/14 "2016-03-04T06:32:50Z")
The Great Maw… Big mouth… Appears ‘swallowing them whole’… A powerful spell that can only be cast once…? Oh dear… ---
**Author:** ![sethrogensbackhair](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/sethrogensbackhair/32/563_2.png) [@sethrogensbackhair](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/sethrogensbackhair)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 6:39am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/15 "2016-03-04T06:39:21Z")
Swallows entire enemy team 50% chance of regurgitation 75mana cost [http://www.reactiongifs.com/lol/illK6U.gif](http://www.reactiongifs.com/lol/illK6U.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Shimrra](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/shimrra/32/87_2.png) [@Shimrra](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Shimrra)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 6:45am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/16 "2016-03-04T06:45:37Z")
I happen to know what that one-time-only ability does. I was _very_ alarmed at the implications until I learned more context. Its _probably_ fine balance-wise? I am so looking forward to that line-up manipulation on Dust Devil though. Didn’t know about that one. The fact its on an AOE ability as well makes it particularly efficient - shifting troops that get hit by skulls so that AOE continues to be most cost-efficient. Very cool. ---
**Author:** ![MarvelKit](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/marvelkit/32/7072_2.png) [@MarvelKit](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/MarvelKit)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 7:26am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/17 "2016-03-04T07:26:32Z")
Hoe about putting one in first AND last position? 😜 ---
**Author:** ![Tacet](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/tacet/32/35_2.png) [@Tacet](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Tacet)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 8:17am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/18 "2016-03-04T08:17:15Z")
If there were 2 troops left, one in the 1st position and one in the 3rd, would the position shift move them to 2nd and 4th or the 1st slot to 4th? Similarly, if troops were in 2nd and 3rd, would it shift to 1st and 2nd, 3rd and 4th, or 2nd and 4th? ---
**Author:** ![DEMONorANGEL](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/demonorangel/32/41260_2.png) [@DEMONorANGEL](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/DEMONorANGEL)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 8:38am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/19 "2016-03-04T08:38:27Z")
New Content Wu@Haaaaaaaaa 😈 or 😇 Keep it commin guys and i will keep buyin the diamonds 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Jainus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/jainus/32/34949_2.png) [@Jainus](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Jainus)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 8:45am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203/20 "2016-03-04T08:45:30Z")
Yikes my brain hurts… If there were 2nd, 3rd and 4th left could it empty the dishwasher? [Next page](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/kingdom-preview-drifting-sands/4203.md?page=2)